Will I have to pay VAT, GST, Import duties etc…?
Customers outside the UK will be responsible for their own import fees and duties as determined by their own customs. Currently all bikes are shipped from UK. Please check with your local government for rates and details.
Do you ship to my country?
We will ship worldwide. However, if you find that the shipping cost for a single bike to your country is only listed as ROW (rest of the world) and seems high, please contact us. We can look at the specific cost for you and list it. We can also look at air or sea freight for you.
How much is shipping to my country?
Shipping fees are shown on the product page under the shipping tab and courier costs are shown during checkout. Add your Twicycle to cart and select ‘Calculate Shipping’ and ‘Update Total’ to confirm your shipping price.
Some courier prices are high due to box size (119x27x81cm at 16kg). You can also make a 4% saving on bike+shipping by using alternative payment method such as wise or bank transfer (works out at least $95+).
Air Freight is also available if you can collect your bike at your local airport. (note that air freight can be combined if you purchase 2 or more bikes) You may need a local broker for customs clearance:
When will I receive my Twicycle?
Current dispatch time is 3-5 working days if your size shows “in stock”. Depending on delivery method and your location, delivery can take from 1-10 working days after dispatch.
Will the bike need assembly?
Some usual assembly will be required. (pedals, wheels, derailleurs)
You can see the detailed video instructions here: https://twicycle.com/assembly/
I want one! Where do I buy please?
You can order your Twicycle in our SHOP. The bikes are in stock but in very limited quantity.
Do you offer returns/exchanges?
We advise customers to be sure of their decision to purchase as returns and exchanges are very difficult and it is our policy that all sales are final. The bikes are in high demand and low in stock so we prefer to make bikes available to those customers who are really keen on using them. You can see full terms here: https://twicycle.com/returns
How do I brake? Won’t all the cables get all mangled up with the cranks turning?
The brakes are located on the handles and in a position which would be similar to a normal drop bar on a road bike. The brakes are the usual road caliper brakes. The cables don’t get mangled up as they are attached to handles which are always horizontal and connected to your hands… they simply move up and down.
It looks like too much coordination! Riding a bike is hard enough let alone having to use your arms as well…
There is absolutely no special coordination required!
When given to absolute beginners, in our tests ALL were able to use it immediately on the first go. See this short video of one of the open days here (click to see)
Because the handlebars are parallel it comes very natural to first time users and no different to riding a normal bike.
Learning to skate, skateboard, ski, waterski etc are all much much harder to learn yet people learn that in matter of hours or minutes. Twicycle is incredibly easy to use.
A chainring /sprocket right underneath your chin…is there any protection from it?
There is a Chest PAD where the rider is resting his chest on. The pad is in such a position that it keeps one’s face a considerable distance away from the chain/chainring so that it can’t come into contact with one another.
An optional chain guard can also be fitted for those who feel the added accessory would benefit them and can be purchased as the extra accessory directly from us. Locking Mechanism / Chainguard
Can my fingers get caught in the chain while riding?
The chain can ONLY turn if the rider is turning it. The moment the rider stops turning the bars, the chain stops turning too… And the time you’re turning the handlebars, your fingers can not possibly be anywhere near the chain as they would be firmly on the actual handles.
Does it have the option to lock the handlebars so you don’t have to use arms?
Yes it does!
There is a separate optional accesory which when engaged locks the handlebars in “drop bar” position and allows TwiCycle to be used like a normal road bike. Note that the hand grips will still have some movement but the whole crank system will not be able to turn.
The Locking Mechanism / Chainguard accessory is available from our shop.
Do I always have to use both legs and arms?
You can use only legs… only arms…or any combination of those. The arms drive the front wheel and the legs drive the back wheel completely independent of each other.
Do the handlebars always turn or can I stop turning them and still keep coasting?
The system currently used on the handlebars is the standard ‘freewheel’ system which means that you can stop pedaling your arms at any time and just coast…
Watch when that chain gets caught in the front wheel!
Watch when the back chain gets caught too!
The front wheel drive mechanism is no different to a normal rear wheel mechanism and this has been tried and tested for a 100 years. The risks are the same as for any other standard bicycle.
And with Twicycle even if the chain derails it still only drops a few inches and then stops at handlebars so it’s even safer than the rear drive chain as it doesn’t flap around but stays under tension from derailleur.
Can I isolate muscle groups, or do I always have to do full body workout?
Yes you can.
The great thing about Twicycle is that you can actually separate your workout into different muscle groups on different days.
For example:
Mondays: you can use the ‘Pushing’ motion with your arms for half of the turn exercising your chest and triceps only.. The bike keeps coasting so you don’t have to provide power on the remaining ‘pull’ stroke… or you can help out for that half of the stroke with your legs. You can also wind the handlebars BACK to reset for another PUSH only motion using it like a BENCH PRESS machine.
Tuesdays: you can use the PULL motion only for half the turn exercising only your lats and biceps. This would be like using a ROWING machine!
Wednesdays: Use your legs only as a normal bicycle.
The low riding position looks like it could do damage to your neck/back?
It is no different than any other road/race bicycle. Professional athletes have been using bikes with even lower aero positions with no evidence of any side effects.
Included Chest Pad on which the rider rests all of their upper body weight, alleviates the stress from the back therefore making twicycle much more comfortable than a normal road bike.
What’s it like for a daily urban commute? Or is more aimed at exercise and work out?
You can do either. Depending on how hard you push. Handling is just like a regular bike once you get used to it.
Would this be useful for extra traction on a steep uphill/dirt road? Like a 4WD car?
Yes, Just like a 4WD car, Twicycle is the bike equivalent to that. Having drive on both wheels increases traction two fold so you no longer have to have the rear wheel just spin and give no drive forcing you to walk the rest of the uphill. The mountain bike version (coming in the future) will demonstrate this even further.
Have you considered offsetting the handlebar pedals by 180 degrees?
Yes, we tried this. 180 degree offset pedals work well for legs but are not desirable for arms as it’s not great for steering… The current version with handles parallel is completely stable and feels immediately natural to first time users.
Can the bike be used indoors? Like on a turbo trainer?
Yes, absolutely. You can mount the bike on any standard turbo trainer. The front wheel has the same spacing as the rear so you can put the turbo trainer on either one (or both if you have 2).
What size tyres can I use on the bike?
The original bike comes with 23c tyres as standard.
The original can easily fit 25c and most possibly 28c tyres (at least on the front without issues). The rear you may need to check when in a bike shop as sizes can differ from brand to brand.
If you need exact dimensions from the axle to the nearest point on either fork or frame, please contact us.
What is the maximum weight/height limit?
The rider weight on the current bike is limited by wheels mainly which are rated at 110kg. There is no height limit. Feel free to contact us if you’re really tall and unsure.
The leg crankset has two sprockets but there is no derailleur or shifter for it, why?
The bike was designed to be used with the large 53t chainring only as you will have less need to change gears with the ability to add arm power instead. We originally intended to include only the 53t but the price difference to add another 39t was minimal so we added it.
If you live in a really hilly environment, then you may opt to use the smaller 39t on the hills.
They need to be changed by hand.
On your bike the front brake is on the right hand but I am used to it being the other way in my country! Why did you do it that way?
The right hand is the dominant hand and should always be on the handlebar and operate the more important and dominant brake (front brake) in case of emergency. For safety reasons, the brakes should remain this way unless of course you are left handed in which case your left hand is the dominant hand. Other bikes have brakes fitted based on which side of the road is driven on in that country so this should not cause confusion as it has nothing to do with safety or physics.
There is a little metal shield on my fork and the chain rubs on it in larger sprockets. Why is that?
The chain deflector is designed to be replaced together with the chain as it wears out. It should only make significant contact with the chain in the larger sprockets. Similar deflector design is used in most car engines. It is easily replaced (double sided tape) and we stock spares.
My chest pad feels uncomfortable.
In the beginning the chest pad may feel a little uncomfortable, the same way that the saddle can feel when you first start riding in the season. But you should ensure that 3 set up points are followed to get the correct and comfortable fit:
1. Make sure that the pad is angled properly so that it lies FLAT against your chest when you lean into it. If the angle is incorrect, parts of it may dig into you and make it uncomfortable.
2. Make sure that the forward/back position is correct. It should have at least 2 fingers clearance from your collar bone to prevent it pressing on your wind pipe
3. Adjust the height of the chest pad so that you have at least 2 fingers clearance when you fully extend your arms and lift your weight off it. You need to be able to lift of your weight from it without it catching to make tight steering maneuvers.
4. If you experience chafing one idea is to wear 2 t-shirts. One that is snug against your body and the other that can slide over the first t-shirt. Chose 2 materials that will slide over one another easily such as polyester. (the idea is that the slide happens between the 2 shirts rather than your skin and a shirt). You can also make a cover to go over your chest pad to achieve a similar result.
My bike feels a little wobbly when I use my arms and legs.
Check for the following issues that could have happened during transit especially if the couriers have been rough with it:
I received some spacers and washers with my bike (red and black in colour), but I don’t know what to do with them.
The spacers you find with the bag of accessories are for the hubs and serve no purpose for your current 8 speed bike setup. You do not need to do anything with those. The red ones are spare seals for the hub freewheels.
Does the bike have the option to instal pannier racks?
There are currently no rivets installed on the 2018 and 2024 frames. However these can be added after market (rivets in the seat stays) and threads cut into drop outs. Your local bike shop may be able to assist for these traditonal mounting systems. There are also other systems which don’t need rivets/threads in the frame which might be suitable for Twicycle. Any further questions are welcome.